For a while, I felt like my art studio and work was all on hold for “eventual” things. I was too tired after work, I didn’t want to post what I had, I wasn’t sketching as often, my style wasn’t ready, my pencil wasn’t sharpened. Sometimes it’s a creative block, sometimes there is something in the way. I don’t recall what made me do it, but I started to ask the ever persistent question… why?

Here’s a few examples:

WHY wasn’t I posting or sharing the work that I had to post as often?

At this time last year I had all of my creative ventures on one account @hues.and.tones. I worried that too much art vs. too much knitting would deter some followers. Now I am not really here to play the numbers game, but I want to make sure that those who do share their time with me were enjoying what they saw. So, I made a new account for my knitting. Everything knitting is over at @hues.and.tones.knits. Now I have a place where things were more consistent, and now all I have to stew about is my style and how it comes off on my art account (words for another day).
After I did this, I am posting a lot more and I have grouped locations where I can immerse myself in either world for a few minutes out of the day.

WHY am I not sketching as often?

Lately, I have a bullet journal sized book on the go. I keep my notes, ideas, lists, drawings, etc. all in there. I will jot a little sketch down here and there, but I didn’t find I was drawing as much as I used to in school. When I thought about it, when I was in school I was carrying around MASSIVE art surfaces everywhere, and my sketchbook was much larger than a bullet journal. I was used to getting big ideas out in big sketches all over big surfaces. Now I just had a tiny surface with no room to brainstorm my ideas, and let them breathe. Quick solution, off to Curry’s! This was a good exception for my note/sketchbook purchasing ban. I don’t use it everyday, but I do have a huge sketchbook now where I really work out all of my larger Behance projects and other ideas lately. The ideas are free to roam now.

This can apply to pretty much anything in life really. But if you are feeling stuck, just take a minute and ask WHY. You might find out that you are pursuing something that doesn’t interest you. You might find that you are trying the hardest way to get to something. You might find that you’re on the right track you just forgot to sharpen your pencil. You don’t know until you ask.